“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17) KJV

Why do We Need a Savior?

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isa. 59:2)

In the beginning, man was created for relationship with God.

God’s relationship to Adam was that of a Father to a son, and He would come down in the cool of the day to walk and talk with him.

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” (Gen. 3:8)

When Adam disobeyed and sinned against God, he died spiritually, a sin nature entered into his heart, and his relationship with God as a son to a Father was severed.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isa. 59:1-2)

From that point on, Adam’s sin nature was passed down to every generation and all of mankind sought after the pleasures of sin instead of a relationship with their Heavenly Father.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom 3:10-12)

Although over the centuries man has sought to create various religious means to appease the wrath of God and obtain immortality, all of his efforts have been in vain while continuing to harbor the sin nature of his heart.

However, everything God has done since the transgression of Adam has been for the sole purpose of restoring that relationship that man once had with Him.

But no matter what God did, man’s sin nature stood in the way of that relationship.

There was nothing on earth that could be done to remove the sin nature of man. Sinful acts could be forgiven, but there was nothing to change the heart of a man to restore relationship.

God Himself would have to come down and become a man without sin so that He could then exchange His sinless nature for the sinful nature of all mankind.

God did this through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ and His plan of Salvation.

“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” (Mat. 1:20)

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Mat. 1:21)

“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Mat. 1:22-23)

“Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Mat. 1:24-25)

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus Christ lived a completely sinless life. He was able to do it since God and not man was His Father, therefore He didn’t have the sin nature passed down from Adam.

Having earned the righteousness of a sinless life, He chose to die a sinner’s death upon the cross of Calvary as a sacrifice for our sins and a substitution for our punishment.

He did this in order to exchange His righteousness for our unrighteousness, and impart His sinless nature unto us through our faith in Him.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor. 5:21)

After three days He rose from the dead for our justification, fulfilling prophecy, so that all of creation might know that His sacrifice was accepted by God.

The way for us to have a relationship with God is restored through our acceptance of Jesus Christ and our faith in Him.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:10)

The only way to meet God is through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Matt. 11:27)

Jesus said, “I am the door.”

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

Not only did Jesus say that He was THE doorway to God, He also said that He was the ONLY way to meet God.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

There are those who say, “There are many different pathways that lead to God”, or they may say, “We all serve the same God. We only call Him by different names.”

However, the Bible says,

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

There is only one way to God and that is through His Son Jesus Christ.

There is only one Name whereby we can be saved and that is the Name of Jesus Christ.

The only way to meet and know God is to meet and know Jesus.

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14:9)

“I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)

When we meet and know Jesus then we meet and know God.

When we meet and know Jesus then we can begin to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Jesus said,

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20)

The door Jesus stands at is the door of your heart. He is knocking and only you can open that door.

If you have not already done so, then open that door. Verbally confess your belief in Him and invite Him into your heart.

God will save your soul, forgive you of all your sin, pen your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and give you eternal life with Him.

He will come inside of you by His Spirit and your relationship to God as your Heavenly Father will be restored.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)

Next- The Powerless Christian

All twelve books in the “How to Walk Christian Series” by Raymond Candy are available now in one collection of two volumes for $6.99 each at bn.com for the NOOK, amazon.com for the KINDLE, on iTunes at the iBookstore for the iPad and iPhone, and at Lulu.com for the PC and all e-reading devices